Experts analyzed data from about 45,000 participants, 34% of whom were vegetarian (this study defined vegetarianism as individuals who eschewed both meat and fish). Participants were tracked for over a decade, with researchers amassing information on their dietary choices, alcohol consumption, exercise habits, and other variables that might impact heart disease risk. Even after controlling for those other factors, researchers found that vegetarians were significantly less likely to develop heart disease or succumb to the illness. “Most of the difference in risk is probably caused by effects on cholesterol and blood pressure,” says lead study author Francesca Crowe, PhD, of the University of Oxford, in a statement. “[This] shows the important role of diet in preventing heart disease.” The research also revealed that vegetarians tended to have lower body mass index scores and were less likely to suffer from diabetes. This latest study is one of the largest to examine the cardiovascular benefits of vegetarian eating, but it’s hardly breaking news that meatless diets are accompanied by a myriad of health benefits. Another recent study, for instance, followed 37,000 adults and noted that eating one vegetarian meal per day might reduce the risk of dying from cancer by 20%. Other research has indicated that vegetarians have a reduced risk of food-borne illness, less severe menopause symptoms, and even longer lifespans than meat-eaters. Not quite ready to give up the occasional hamburger? You can still reap plenty of benefits by incorporating more meat-free, heart-healthy foods into your diet (blueberries, walnuts, and avocado are only a few tasty examples). And consider eliminating meat from your diet whenever you can. In fact, now might be a good time to join Prevention.com editors in our Meatless Monday campaign! More from Prevention: The Best Food For Your Heart Questions? Comments? Contact Prevention’s News Team! Follow her on Twitter: @katiedrumm Send news tips and positive vibes to: Katie.Drummond@rodale.com
